Hydrogenation by cyanocobaltate. Part III. Kinetic and deuterium tracer studies of the mechanism of the hydrogenation of trans-1-phenylbuta-1,3-diene catalysed by pentacyanocobaltate(II)

Abstract

Hydrogenation of trans-1-phenylbuta-1,3-diene by pentacyanocobaltate has been studied in water, glycerol–methanol, and ethylene glycol–water. Kinetic and deuterium tracer studies have confirmed that the hydrogenation proceeds by a mechanism involving organocobalt intermediates. It has been concluded that the hydrogenation by pentacyanocobaltate involves intermediates whose structure depends on the solvent as well as the olefin substrate.